The designated Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) has announced a legislative procedure for a general vaccination requirement, which could be initiated this year. The MPs should be able to vote freely according to their conscience, said Scholz on Tuesday on the broadcaster Bild TV. He justified the project with the necessary protection of the population. Government spokesman Steffen Seibert also announced that the federal and state governments wanted to make a quick decision on a general vaccination requirement. "In addition to facility-related vaccination requirements, a prompt decision on general vaccination requirements should also be prepared," said Seibert. For this purpose, the next conference of the Prime Ministers with Merkel and Scholz from December 9th to next Thursday is to be brought forward.
After a top-level meeting between the state minister-presidents and Scholz and the outgoing Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU), Seibert announced that the federal and state governments are aiming for 30 million vaccinations against the corona virus by Christmas. In order to make this possible, "the circle of those who are allowed to carry out vaccinations should be significantly expanded". Vaccinations by dentists and pharmacies were also mentioned after the conversation.
In addition, the federal and state governments dealt with various proposals, including extensive contact restrictions, especially for unvaccinated people, including at private get-togethers.
Furthermore, the expansion of the 2G rules to the retail trade and restrictions on major events are being examined.
Seibert also announced that the federal and state governments are aiming for 30 million vaccinations against the corona virus by Christmas.
Merkel and Scholz had previously presented the new Corona crisis team in the Chancellery.
While the Union and green-led federal states had already insisted on decisions on Tuesday, the SPD side had emphasized that it was an informal switch.
However, both Scholz and the Union side made specific suggestions for further corona measures. The SPD politician and the Union countries proposed a general vaccination requirement, which Scholz wants to have implemented by the end of February. He also advocated a 2-G obligation in retail. The Union and green-led federal states also proposed a nationwide uniform implementation of new corona measures, for example for the closure of bars and clubs or audience limits for major events as well as drastic contact restrictions for unvaccinated people.
After the round in politics, Bavaria's Prime Minister Markus Söder now sees "actually a great deal of unity". The traffic light parties and especially the designated new Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz had moved. “It went better than I thought,” says Söder. "A lot has progressed, and Olaf Scholz has played his part in that." He reported on a good and productive conversation. "We are heading in the right direction," says the CSU politician. Progress has been made on the subject of general vaccination requirements. Scholz had also given the promise that the old regulations in the Infection Protection Act could be applied beyond December 15.
Saxony's Prime Minister Michael Kretschmer confirmed that the Prime Minister's Conference will be discussed again this week by the federal and state governments. Then the decision will be made that games in the Bundesliga would be played without spectators, says Kretschmer.
Brandenburg's Prime Minister Dietmar Woidke (SPD) has praised the cooperation with the incumbent and the future federal government in the corona pandemic.
After the top-level discussion, Woidke said that there was "great cooperation, great support, so that we will not get a break in the fight against the pandemic".
Everyone is aware of their responsibility, said Woidke.
Everyone behaved according to their responsibility, so that the change of government "can take place with good organization, without harming the common cause - namely a good pandemic fight."